Tea and Folklore

LIGHT OF DAY is including this bit of tea folklore just for fun!

“GYPSY’S SECRET”: The Tea Reading

Put a pinch of tea leaves in the cup and pour boiling water over them, allowing it to stand about three minutes. Drink the contents of the cup leaving tea leaves and a very small amount of liquid in the bottom.

The person whose fortune is to be told, call the “sitter” or “consultant”, should then take the cup by the handle in the left hand, rim upwards, and move it in a circle rapidly three times from left to right some of the tea leaves will seem to cling to the sides of the cup while others remain in the bottom. Next slowly invert the cup over the saucer and leave it there until all liquid drains away.

The “sitter” should approach the oracle in all seriousness and during the ritual should concentrate on his or her future destiny and “wish” that the symbol shall correctly represent happenings to come.

The handle of the cup represents the “sitter” in his or her own “sphere” or “residence” and is the “south” point of the compass. This fixed point designates “letters to” the consultant or “journeys away from”, “visitors to be expected”, distance “to and from”, etc.

The cup is divided into three parts. The rim designates the present; the side, events not far distant; and the bottom the distant future. The nearer the symbols appear to the handle the nearer to fulfillment will be the events foretold.

Telling Fortunes

Now the “seer” receives the cup from the “sitter” and proceeds to tell “his” or “her” fortune, unless of course one is to tell one’s own fortune. The “seer” should concentrate upon the cup and upon the “consultant”. The “seer” will observe that the tealeaves are scattered over the cup in apparent confusion but it will be noted after concentration that they form lines, circles, dots, small groups and figures.

Note carefully the shapes and figures assumed by the leaves. Turn the cup and view from different angles until the symbols become clear. Be patient and search carefully for symbols and not their position. The more you search the clearer they become. Note the resemblance to various objects, and their relation to each other. Sometimes bad omens will be offset by good ones; good ones may be strengthened or weakened by others, good or evil, and so on.

“The tea cup reveals good fortune (1,4,5) for you. I see a lover (3) and much success. I see the letter “L”- perhaps his name begins with “L” but you have not met him yet because he seems to be in the future – not far distant perhaps but not in the present. I see success is about to crown some venture you have undertaken or are about to undertake. But there seems to be difficulties closing in upon (2) you in the near future”.

“Fear not in this tea cup good fortune more than outweighs the bad. I see a marriage, possibly you own (4) or a friend’s. It seems certain that this good fortune that is coming will be most unexpected”.

Such objects as cats, trees, flowers, letters, numbers, etc., will be discerned by the exercise of the “seer’s” observation and imagination. Possibly these may be unconsciously strengthened by a keen intuition. Each symbol possesses some significance. They may be large or small and their size may determine their relative importance. For instance: if the likeness of a “Septre” should be observed it would mean that the “sitter” should expect some honor bestowed upon him or her. If the symbol were small, the honor received would be small and if the symbol were large, the honor might be great.

Then again: a few tea leaves may form a group that might in turn form a letter such as “M”. If this letter “M” should be close to a symbol resembling a “serpent” which is bad luck, it might mean that the “sitter” should guard against an enemy whose name begins with “M”. If on the other hand the letter “M” should appear near a symbol of a bird flying towards the handle of the cup (the “residence”) it might mean that the sitter would receive a letter from, or news of, a person whose name begins with “M”. If on the other hand the letter “M” should appear near a symbol of a bird flying towards the handle of the cup (the “residence”) it might mean that the sitter would receive a letter from, or news of, a person whose name begins with “M”. Again: If the bird were flying away from the “residence”, the sitter would be sending a letter to the person “M”.

The small tealeaves frequently form lines. A line means a journey, a long line a long journey, etc. The direction of the journey may be determined by the direction of the line. If a line should approach and reach the handle and the sitter should be away from home it would mean that he or she would return. If the line should end before it reaches the handle it would mean that the “sitter” would move to another residence. A wavy or broken line means delayed journeys and straight-line quick journeys. If a number such as “6? should be observed it would mean a journey of six days or six weeks; or possibly a journey to be taken in six weeks, etc., etc.

Dots surrounding a symbol indicate money in some form depending on the symbol. Should a leaf cling to the edge or rim of the cup some event foretold by the symbols in the cup is imminent. Someone may be thinking of the “sitter” at the very moment. Look for a letter to find a clue to the identity of this person.

Observe the complete picture as a whole as well as individual symbols for often-bad omens may outweigh good omens or vice versa. One large distinct good omen may outweigh several smaller hazy bad omens. Good and bad should be balanced against each other in determining the forecast.

If mysteries should be revealed to you, question them if you will, but cherish and keep the Gypsy’s secret.

– Princess Romana

MEANING OF SYMBOLS

ACORN—Continued health—improved health.

ANCHOR—Lucky symbol. Success in business or in love. If blurred or indistinct just the reverse.

HEART—A lover. If close to a ring, marriage to the present lover. If indistinct, the lover is fickle.